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(No Model.)

i "8. LDIBBLB. y 8 AIR VALVE FOR WATER PIPBS.

C No. 257,858. Patented 88851181882.

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PETERS4 PhuluLilhng'rammr. whinglm D4 t;

l f UNITED nSIATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. DIBBLE, on BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

AI R-VALVE FOR WATER-PIPES.

l SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,853, dated. May16, 1882.

Applications@ January 25,1882. (No model.)

To all whom tt may concern Be it known that. I, JOHN L. DIBBLE, ofBrooklyn, Kings county, in the State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in AirValves for Water-Pipes, and I dohereby declare that the following is a full and exact descriptionthereof.

Great difficulty is experienced in many systems ot' water pipes andmains caused'by the accumulation of air at the higher points obstructing the passage of the water and destroying the steadiness of theflow. Especially is this true of force-mains and systems of pipessupplied by direetpumpin g without the intervention of stand-pipes orreservoirs. On lling a new line of pipes or a portion that has beenemptied for repair or other purpose it is n important to furnish meansof egress for the contained air.

&c.,as may be on the line or by tapping the pipe at the high points.Some kinds of wapipes, while calculated to withstand the heaviesthydraulic pressure7 are not so well fitted `to bear an external pressuresuch as would be ypoint or bend in the pipe, will attord ready -meansforthe egress ot' the contained air when the pipes are being filled,prevent the gradual accumulation ot'air at that point at subsequentperiods', and permit the free admission of' air to the interior of thepipes in case they should by any means be emptied of their densercontents.

" .The following is adeseriptionot' whatIcon- .sider the -best means ofvcarrying out the invention.. s

` The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification;

\ Figure 1 isa central vertical section through the entire apparatus,showing the condition when themain valve is open. This is the conditionwhich obtains when air is being drawn inorzbeing discharged freely, orwhen the parts are' at rest with no water in the pipe.

Figs. 2` and 3 areoutline sections of the same, showing the device inaction in two conditions.

This is now inpart accomplished by opening such 4fire-plugs, hydrants,

Fig. 2 shows the main valve shut with the water at a high level aroundthe float, 'pressing the float up against it. Fig. 3 shows the mainvalve shut, but with the water around the float at a. `low level, sothat the float is not supported by the water, but sinks with sufficientforce t-o open a secondary valve. This condition obtainswhcn airaccumulates around the float and lowers the-water so that the oat is nolonger supported by the water. The aceumulated air is in this conditionfree to escapethroughoneormoresmallapertures. Fig. 4. is a plan `or topview of the float-valve with a strip of rubber, which serves as asecondary Valve to stop certa-in small openings in the main valve. Fig.5 is a plan of the main valve. Fig. 6 is an outline of a portion showinga modification. Fig. 7 is an outline ot' a portion showing another.modification.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A A represent a cylindrical valvecase, the upper and lower partsj oinedbya screw-thread, as is customary.

B is a flat disk or plate held in position by the same screw-thread asunites the upper and lower parts of the valve-case.` Ports b are made init near the periphery for the passage ot' water and air. On this disk isan upright cylinder, C, open at top. Near the bottom of the cup thusformed one or more small apertures, c, should be provided. In 'this cupis loosely confined a hollow. float, I), of less depth than the cup, andmade air and water tight at all points except an opening at the bottom.In the top are fixed two small tubes,.l d, extending down intoythe floatand closed at their lower ends. On the top is a` broad strip'of rubberor other tight tting and pliable material, F, one end ot' which isfirmly attached to the float. Allthe rest of the strip F is left free.1t is supported on a coiled wire orpanal'- ogous ridgcd surface toallwthe air or water to get under it" and to press it forcibly upward whenrequired.

E is the main valve, of a form fitted to make an air and water tightbearing by the aid cfa rubber packingV carried thereon; The under sideot' this valve carries vertical pins or rods E' E', which,'playingloosely in the tubes d d, serve as guides to keep the float D and valveIOO E in the same position laterally, while allowing independentvertical motion. Through the main valveE is made a series ot' smallports or secondary-valve passages, e e. On the lower face of the mainValve are small conelike projections, through which these ports orapertures extend, insuring a tirm bearing on the rubber F, which servesas the secondary valve.

Myl invention bein g placed on the upper side ot' a water-pipe,preferably at the higher points of the system and properly connected,thevfollowing results ensue: n the admission of water into the pipe theair readily passes through the annular space between the cupV C and thevalve-case and past the main valve E out of the top. When the air is alldischarged the water enters the valve-case and raises the iloat andlifts the main valve E to its seat, closing it tightly. The small amountof air remaining in the valve-.case will be compressed by the force ofthe water, as also will be the air within the float D, and the apparatuswill be approximately in condition as represented in Fig. 2, wrepresenting thc water-level within the tloat, and 102 representing thewater-level inthe valve-cases C A. These levels will'be modified byvariation of the hydraulic pressure in the pipe, which will be referredto farther on.

Misa check-valve of am ple area and strongly mounted in a steadiment ina horizontal plate below the removable disk B. lt opens down. ward, andis held open by its gravity and also by a projection from the disk B. Solong` as it remains open it is of no effect; but when it becomesnecessary to remove the upper portion of the apparatus for examinationor repairs or for the exchange of any part, all that is necessary is toapply a suitable wrench or other instrument, and by turning around themain body A to unscrew it from the base A.

VThis act raises the main body A and liberates the disk. B. The momentthe upper work is removed the checlcvalve M, being no longer -held downbythe disk B, is driven upward by the upward rush of water, and,closing, forms la check to hold the water back until the properexamination and repairs have been made. On returning the casing A, withits contents, the screwing down again acts on the stem of thecheck-valve M, and, forcing it open,alllows the water to flow up throughand the proper action of the apparatus to be instantly resumed. Any airthatmay be contained in the pipes or be drawn ,in from the source orforced in by the pumps, on reaching the opening at foot of the Valve,ascends int'o the annular space between the cup G and the valve-case,displacing its own bulk of water. This continuesuntil the water-leveloutside ot' the tloat D is down to or below that within the tloat. (SeeFig. 3.) All the weight of the float, and also ofthe body of the waterwithin the float not supported by the water outside, is now sustainedsolely by the strip of rubber or other pliable material F,

which is attached, as described, by one of its ends only-to the float D,and is held by the airpressure against the orifices c e. When, by thegradual accumulation of air and lowering of the water-level outside, thesustained weight becomes greater than the air-pressure on thesuperficial area of one of the secondary-valve.

ports e, the rubberFis drawn away from such ports, and the air containedin the valve-case outside of the float escapes, its place being filledby water from the pipe below. As the air escapes the rising ofthe waterin the valvecase A again lifts the oat D and brings the rubber F againin tight contact with E, and all-the parts resume their formercondition, as Ashown in Fig. 2. Whenever from any cause the pipes areemptied or the pressure vtaken off the main valve immediately opens andadmits the air into the interior ot' the pipe, rendering a vacuumimpossible.

Many'tmoditications may bc made without departing from the principle ofmy invention. For instance, the valve-float D may be made solid, of anysuitable material. Such a float combined as here shown will serve withsome success; butI attach much importance to the construction of mytioat D asa hollow shell ot' metal open only at the bottom, because thewater will enter and compress the air to an eX,-

vtent proportioned to the pressure in the pipe,

and the weight ofthe float in pulling open the secondary valve requiresto be greater with the higher pressure.

My peculiar construction of the iioat is preferable to a float otuniform ilotation, because it will tloat with force and lift the mainvalve firmly to its seat under light pressures when the air within thefloat is not compressed,and when the pressure is not sufficient to holdthe main valve up t0 its seat; and it will,by the compression ot' theair within the loat into a small compass under high pressures, allow somuch water to enter the float that it will lose a great portion of itsbuoyancy under conditions when it can be spared, and will, by the.

greater gravity of the float, give increased power for pulling downwardon the flexible strip F when it is held up against the respective holcsewith the greatest force.

The form and construction of this valve-case may he varied to suitcircumstances and con ditions. yThe main valve and its seat may begreatly varied as to material, form, and method ot' packing. Thesecondarywalve ports may be placed in varied positions in the mainvalve, or they may be made in the valve-case at thc top or side andsuitable appliances to open and close them at proper times be connectedwith the valve-float; but for simplicity of construction I prefer themas described.

I can use other means of holding the valve E upon the tioat D, so as tomaintain their correct lateral position and prevent their turning.around one relatively to the other, while allowing the proper amount ofvertical motion ot' the float without disturbing the main valve,

its

IOO

IIO

and the same of the main valve without necessitating a correspondingvertical movement of the ioat. Y

Parts of the invention may be used without the whole. I can use anordinary stopcock below instead of the check-valveM. I can use theapparatus with some success without any special provision for removingthe parts for repairs. In the ordinary form of the device the motion isconined to a slight vertical movement of the float D, and consequentlyof one extremity of the strip F, alternately covering and uncovering oneof the apertures e. It is only in case of the reception of extraordinaryquantities of air that the float D will sink low enough to uncover more'than two or three of the apertures. I esteem it important to have aseries of the apertures e, in order that while but slight resistance isoffered to the opening of the `iirst asufcient sinking of the float willopen a large arca to discharge much air under extraordinary conditions.It is also important in case any small solid substance should bereceived in one ofthe holes e and obstruct it: In such case the iioatwill sinklower, and the alternate opening and closing will be performedon the second instead of the tirst aper-- ture c.

The proportionate dimensions of valve-case, oat, 'main oritice, andsecondary ports may be varied Within Wide limits.

The modifcation'shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are outlines, showing the upperportion of the oat with the main valve and secondary valve or valves,Fig. 6 has only one secondary valve. This is exactly in the center, andthe guides are omitted. l There is no objection to permitting the iioatto turn around into amy position it may chance to assume. The secondaryvalve is conical and lits in a corresponding seat in the main valve.,Fig. 7 has two secondary valves, mounted independently, but so caged onthe float that the gradual sinking ofthe float will open one before theother.

I claim as my inventionl. The casing A, inclosed lioat D, main valve E,and sub-valve F, and means for attachment to a pipe, arranged to serveas herein specified. v

2.` The valve or valves F, arranged to coutrol the series of smallapertures e e, and open one of the apertures at a time, in combinationwith the operating-float D and with a casing, A, with provisions forconnecting with a water-pipe, as herein specified.

3. The hollow iio'at D,open only at or near the bottom, in combinationwith the .main valve E, sub-valve F, and casingA, as 4herein specified.

4. The shield-plate B and internal case or cup, C, having limitedopenings c, arranged to serve relatively to the lioat D, main valve E,and external casing, A, as herein specified.

5. The combination, with the main valve E, float D, shield-plate B, andcasing A, ot' the check-valve M, arranged to serve as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at New York city, N.Y., this 24th day of January, 1882, in the presence of 'two subscribingwitnesses.

JNO. L. DIBBLE.

Witnesses:

THOMAS D. STETsoN, CHARLES C. Srnfrson.

